Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-05-18
THE g. A. r. INDICATED
Addres, Of General ]. II. futile, Com.
mander Of tho Department
Of Iowa,
On the Occasion OF . Reception ct
Des A0fnes, On the 23d Of
April.

CoMnApEs: I thank you for your kind vel
come and hearty congratulations upon my be-
ing placed again in coinmand Of the Iowa bat
teiions, whom IL seems to be necessary for the
Grand Army Of the Republic to defend Itself
those who have always been our enemies. both
during the war ana since its close. This DC.
Tense seems to be necessary from the fact that
young men are coming upon the stage OF action
who aro not acquainted personally, and many
older mon have apparently forgotten the spirit
that actuated the volunteers and their high
character - men OF veracity, integrity, and
In all the walks OF lifc. Whom these men vol
unteered they knew not x1et pay they were "a
receive, they asked no questions about II, they
paid or not. Nothing Of q mercenary character
entered their minds. Tho slave holders had
rebelled and they fastened to fill up the
ranks to put them down. They accepted their
small compensation without q murmur. They
performed their duty like honest men, and de-
serve the treatment that should lie awarded to
honest men now. After the war had been going
on for a year or two we heard that there were
msn In the Eorth@showing a disposition to dis
courage us and sympathize with our enemies.
called us hireliIgs and mercenaries, and did
everything they could to discourage enlist
ments to fill up our decimated ranks. They
held public meetings, and declared the war g
failure, and resolved that the South never could
be conquered. and that our armies should be
Wv PAid III 7utSCutIou W tAi5 ~
in the rear, we did not appreciate their strength
nor attach as much importance to their move
ments as it deserved, as we have found out
since. We know that we were right, that we
were fighting in a just cause. and pushing our
~bayonets int, the heart OF the monster re-
beilion, and did not stop to hear or care what
was being said At our backs. We fought the
enemy with zeal, courage, AMI integrity. We
conquered them after many OF us had lost our
lives, and many others had been crippled for
life. or lost their health beyond recovery, and
~hAtN 40 rnknr,nA hama -a rAnAsr-nA thA
praises OF all. The enemy in arms had sur
rendered, and their sympathizers deemed it
prudent to remain silent. None had the temerity
then to say anything to our discredit.
Years passed and we found many OF our COM
rades worthy, honest men ami brave soldiers,
whose health had b en- ruined by hard marches
and exposure, both in tho field and in the prison
pens Of the South, totally disabled from earn
Ing q living, but who found it impossible to pro-
duce the evidence, either on account of the
death OF their officers CT comrades who had
abilities, to prove to the Pension Department
that they had been disabled in the service,
The Grand Army of the Republic, knowing
their deserts, took up their cause and asked
soldiers now disabled and unable to earn Q 1fv-
ing. regardless Of how or when such disability
had been incurred, that would secure them the
money that honestly belonged to them. Con-
gross passed a bill substantially in compliance
with our request, with great unanimity, for
which those who voted for it have our sincere
s40hhns AHo AcoloOAk ScVOGu IL Oil, 8lu LII
giving his reasons for doing SO stated that our
army had been well paid, and he thought that
enough had been done for them in the way Of
pensions. And in concluding his reasons for
yetoing the bill stated that TO allow IT to pass
hon sly"
In other words, that we are all liars and per-
iurers, Us well as mendicants, and are not to be
trusted nor believed when we would give evil
dencc i'll favor OF our disabled comrades, His
principal organ in the West defended the veto
aud ranaat1I I'll h xsI a,,A n-l s-,.--.
tions against US, calling us names that It would
not do to repeat to a polite audience, and said :
The action Of the President in veoting this in
famous bill would suppress that un1nitigated
nuisance, the Grand Army Of the Republic"
That editor was never more mistaken in his
life. The Grand Army OF the Republic can no
more be suppressed now than when they met
the armed rebels in the field. I think II the
President and that editor had been ut Dubuque
this week they would have concluded that our
suppression was not vet accomplished. They
would have seen thousands OF honest, earnest,
and Intelligent men who had all risked their
lives to save their country, and all, regardless
Of party ties, condemning their actions and
words In Language not to be misunderstood
They were the representative OF $1,000 voters
in the State of Iowa; were old soldiers with
good records, determined to yindicate and have
Justice done to their old comrades, where need
ing assistance. All were indignant at the veto
message and the approving article in the Chi
ca5o newspaper.
There are men in all political parties seeking
AAN eAA nohiA6 NAV buAi uSCb VI blcLI I6ll0W
citizens. They have pronounced the soldier
question n chestnut, that the old soldiers have
had enough, that they ask too much, that it is
time for them to take a back seat in the con-
duct Of affairs. We don't think 90. We pro-
pose to organize more thoroughly than ever.
We intend to recruit as fast as possible all the
old soldiers of Iowa and ask them to Join our
organization and 8 and with US in defense Of
our honor and integrity, and woe be to the as
piring politician, regardless Of party, who can
not convince us that he il the soldiers true
fYiand No AYQ told and IL 10 krvy4. that .o.~z
soldier congressman voted for the bill and
afterward voted to sustain the veto. Some SOL
diers never had their hearts in our cause, and
1t is not surprising that a few OF them have got
ten to Congress-. Thank God, none Of our Iowa
congressman made such a record. There never
was q good cause but had its traitors, and our
our organizat on, Is you all are we'll aware, is
strictly prohibited, but / do not regard our rules
to prohibit us from defending ourselves when
astacked as an organization and our comrades
veracity and integrity questioned by the high
est officer in our land.
l think this 10 no more Of q political speech
than one made to the Iowa boys wheE stand
ing in line of battle at Shiloh, and the enemy
rapidly approaching in their front. Riding
along the lines ! urged them to stand your
member the record OF lowe soldiers at Wilson's
Creek and Fort Donelson." That was a short
speech, and might now be considered political,
but it had the effect at the time. perhaps. OF
giving the boys confidence, and may have had
something to do with causing them to maze
their position to be called by the rebels the
hornets nest"
In Andersonville Prison in August, 1864, were
confined $1,000 Union soldiers, suffering all thu
pangs of torment, sick aud starving, anxious to
see their homes and their families, sur aring
which at this day seems incredible Sufferings
and punishments ~ great or greater as almost
any sava g nation on earth would inflict. by
ing at the rate of ten per cent. each month,
thousands CT them unable to rise to their feet.
In thia fAQrfr1 onnnrCeneu nunufa ~ f1o rahnl
government approached them with liberty and
plenty TO eat II they would take the oath OF
allegiance to tho Confederacy, and a money
armies. Out Of all that number they
found but seventy mon who would
thus forswear their cause aud desert their flag.
tho rate Of over q hundred each day-and tfose
whose lives were saved are yet physical wrecks
almost to q man, nnd entirely unable, in conse-
9uense OF being in 2 rebel prison. OF proving
We're they mercenaries, hirelings. dishonest
mon, and not to be trustedP l think not.
would rather trust them on oath than the Presi-
dent, OF editor before mentioned. Men possess-
ing the integrity that they showed therexare
worthy to bs trusted anywhere and under all
circumstances. DIR. Frisbie speaks OF higher
powers. l ask no higher power than to be in
Command Of all the soldiers of Iowa. / care
not what regiments they served in they are ali
Iowa soldiers now. Gu State made a glorious
record during the war. The troops OF no State
in tho Union made . better one. They were
conspicuous in all the great battles OF the West.
and We that went from the then young Stats OF
Iowa are proud Of the record that not a poor
regiment went from the State. Many Of these
soldiers have left the State, and many others
come In their places, and we are now all a
band OF brothers together, and an honor con-
ferred on any man by them is as high rs any
civil ofacs in the gift Of the people. and it /, our
mission now TO show the people that We are not
Q nuisance, not a set OF dead-beats aud coffee